Raffle-plate for propeller-wheels.



S. A. SMITH.

BAFFLE PLATE FOR PROPELL'EB WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. I916- Patented May 15, 1917.

- -n51r s Ar oio.

' SIDNEY A. SMITH, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

BAFFLE-PLATE FOR PROPELJLER-WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Mama May is, 19117.

Application filed September 9, 1916. Serial No. 119,276.

relates to improvements in devices for aidin g in the action of propeller wheels. for out-board motors for propelling boats and particularly in shallow or rough water Where they are liable to take air and race or run wildyandthe improvement consists in providing a flat baffle plate immediately above the propeller Wheel of sufiicient 'width to cover the wheel, yet which being edgewise toward the direction of motion of the vessel does not retard the forward movement of the boat. All users of motor boats are aware that in shallow water when the propeller rises partly out of or too near the surface of the water and in rough Water whenever the propeller is nearly or partially uncovered the propeller will race or run wild, not gettin a on the water. By the provision o a ba e plate immediately above the propeller it is apparent that it can rise much nearer the surface of the water thereby permitting the boat to run in much shallower water than would otherwise be possible; ,and the invention consists in the to novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an out-board motor with the improved bafiie plate on the propeller drive no shaft casing above the wheel, a portion of the propeller wheel being shown in dotted outline beneath said plate. Fig. 2 is .a rear elevation of the propeller wheel and the baf fie plate in position above the same, the ca circle described by the blade of the wheel being shown in dotted line. 'Fig. 3 is a per-' spective view of the baffle plate. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bafile plate.

Like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral designates the tube or casing inclosing the propeller drive shaft, and the numeral as which is attached 11 the propeller Wheel to the shaft in any suitable manner wheel 11.

The baffle plate 12 consists preferably of a thin fiat triangular-shaped plate of suflicient thickness to hold stiiily above the propeller wheel 11, one of the sides of the triangle being placed to the rear so that the plate 12 points toward the frontand cuts its way edgewise through the water as it advances. In order to hold the plate 12 in the horizontal position in relation to the tube or casing 10 and cover the wheelll, a tubular extension 13 is attached to the plate 12 near for turning the propeller the front point and is preferably split at 14 to permit the clamping of the tube 13 upon the casing 10 by means of the screw band clamp 15. 1

In order to firmly brace the bafiie plate 12 in the horizontal position, a bracing or angular fillet strip 16 is attached at its upper end around the tube 13 by welding or soldering the lower edge of the fillet 16 to the bafile plate 12 at a spaced distance from the tube 13 thereby bracing said. tube 13 all around its lower end attachment to the baffle plate 12. The lower end of the tube 13 is preferably turned outward in a circular flange 17 around said lower end. A round hole is made in bafile plate 12 for inserting the tube 13.

When so constructed and braced, it is apparent that the bafiie plate 12 can be slipped onto the casing 10 and placed at an desired point thereon in spaced relation a ove the propeller wheel 11, preferably as close to said propeller wheel as permissible and avoid touching the same when rotated, and, being flat, the bafiie plate 12 will cut through the water without appreciable effect upon the speed of the boat, yet permitting the propeller on an out-board motor to be raised so that said boat can run into shallow inlets and in other shallow waters where it could not run without said bafile plate above the propeller.

I claim as new:

1. A baifle plate for propeller wheels having a vertical incased drive comprising a flat plate, and means for removably and adjustably supporting said plate in a horizontal position from the shaft casing and over the propeller wheel to cut edgewise through the water.

2. A baflie plate for propeller wheels comprising a triangular shaped plate and means for supporting said three-cornered plate with one of said points to'the front and the Wide rear ortion a spaced distance above the propel er wheel to prevent taliing air when said wheel is rotating near the surface of the water.

3. A baflie plate for ropeller wheels comprising a flat metal p ate, a split tube attached to said plate for attachment to a Support to hold said plate a spaced distance above the propeller wheel, and a clamp for said tube for fixedly securing the latter to said support.

4:. The combination with a propeller drive shaft casing and wheel of an out-board motor, of a flat triangular shaped plate, a split tube attached near the front point of said triangular plate, a screw band clamp to attach said split tube on said casin and hold said plate horizontally a space distance above said propeller wheel to prevent said wheel taking air in shallow water.

5. A baflle plate for propeller shafts composed of a flat perforated plate member, a vertical support received in the perforation of the plate, and means to adjustably lock the plate to said support.

6. A baffle plate for outboard motor propellers composed of a plate member formed to engage over the propeller drive shaft cas; ing, and means to removably clamp the plate to said casing in overlying relation to the propeller.

7 A bafile plate for motor propellers composed of a perforated plate member, a sleeve passed thi'ou h the perforation of said member and iaving its end adjacent the latter flanged outwardly to seat against the normal under face of the plate, means associated with the sleeve to secure same in position to a suitable support and bracing means connected to the sleeve and to the normal upper 1 face of the plate member.

In testrmonywhereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY A. SMITH. Wltnesses HULDA A. SANDBERG,

A. W. KETTLE. 

